Woodstock show in NYC won't happen, Lang says

Michael Lang has confirmed that his planned Woodstock 40-year anniversary concert at Brooklyn's Prospect Park in September will not happen.

Sandy Tomcho

Michael Lang has confirmed that his planned Woodstock 40-year anniversary concert at Brooklyn's Prospect Park in September will not happen.

Lang, of Woodstock, the executive producer of the original Woodstock festival, wanted to link the event to the United Nations' project of Climate Week, which is Sept. 20-26.

"It just didn't come together," Lang said Friday. "The possibilities are not strong enough for it to look like it has a shot."

But there's always the 50-year anniversary, right?

"It's more around the issue than the date for me," Lang said. "The most interesting thing about doing it in September was that it was tied to Climate Week. Should another issue emerge and it makes sense for us to do it, then we'll do it."

Another reason the concert didn't take off was lack of money.

"It would have been free, and the sponsors had to be green," Lang said. "Those elements just didn't go together in this economic climate."

Lang originally wanted to hold the concert in Brooklyn's Prospect Park; while he had talks with the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, nothing materialized.

"There are no discussions taking place between Parks and Michael Lang regarding this concert," wrote NYC Parks and Recreation press officer Cristina DeLuca in an e-mail.

When rumors of the concert first circulated months ago, Lang spoke with the Record about plans.

"It's very speculative right now," Lang said in March. "We're trying to see what's feasible."

He also admitted it might not happen, mostly because of the $8 million to $10 million he would need to pull it off: